The unknown is a very scary element. In Irish Halloween ghost stories, like the tales of the banshee, you don't know when or where she will appear. Her wail can come out of nowhere, and it's a sign of death. That suddenness and mystery are terrifying.
The physical appearance of the ghosts is also quite scary. For example, the Headless Horseman. Just the idea of a headless figure riding a horse at high speed is extremely frightening. His lack of a head makes him seem inhuman and more like a nightmare come to life. And his association with death and his past evil deeds adds to the horror. He's not just a spooky sight but also represents the consequences of evil.
The shape - shifting nature of the Pooka is quite scary. You never know what form it will take and when it might lead you astray in the dark.
The scariest elements often involve a sense of dread and the connection to the past. Take the Lady in White at Loftus Hall. The fact that she made a pact with the devil and is still haunting the place is really spooky. It makes you think about the evil that might have been done there in the past. Also, in the stories of the ghostly coach, the mystery surrounding it, not knowing its origin or destination, is what makes it so frightening. It could just show up out of nowhere while you're on a lonely road at night.
The malevolence of the spirits in some stories is terrifying. For example, in the Hellfire Club tales, the idea that they summoned evil spirits and those spirits are still around causing strange lights and coldness. These spirits are not friendly or just lost souls. They seem to have a purpose of causing fear and unease, and that sense of an active, malicious presence is what makes these Irish ghost stories truly frightening.
In classic Halloween ghost stories, the unknown is often the scariest element. For example, in the story of the Headless Horseman, not knowing when or where he'll appear creates a sense of dread. Also, the sudden appearance of ghosts, like in the story of Bloody Mary, is terrifying. One minute there's nothing, and the next she could be right behind you. The idea of being haunted by a vengeful spirit, as in the case of the Bell Witch, is also very scary.
The appearance of the ghosts themselves can be very frightening. They are often described as pale, with hollow eyes and a cold aura. In some stories, they can suddenly appear in front of you, or pass through you, sending a shiver down your spine. This physical manifestation of the otherworldly in 'old true irish ghost stories' is what makes them so scary.
The unknown is a very scary element. In many Irish stories, there are creatures like the Banshee whose powers and motives are not fully understood. You don't know when or why she'll appear, and that sense of mystery is terrifying.
The Bell Witch Haunting is a very scary real Halloween ghost story. The Bell family in Tennessee was terrorized by a malevolent spirit known as the Bell Witch. It would pull hair, slap people, and make strange noises. It even predicted the death of John Bell. The events were so terrifying that it has become one of the most famous hauntings in American history.
The unknown is one of the scariest elements. In many Halloween monster stories, like that of the Slenderman, the monster's origin and true nature are often left mysterious. We don't know exactly what it wants or how it came to be, and that makes it terrifying.
The scariest element could be the ghosts. Their silent presence and ability to pass through walls can be really terrifying.
The scariest element is often the unknown. In dark Halloween stories, things like shadowy figures that you can't quite make out are terrifying. For example, in a story about a haunted mansion, you might see a dark shape moving in the corner of your eye but when you turn to look, it's gone.